Chapter 5-The note

The library session with Jace lingered in my head longer than I wanted it to.

He wasn't just cold and distant anymore — he was… complicated. Like a puzzle I couldn't help but want to solve.

He barely spoke for the rest of the week, but every time I looked up, I caught him watching me. Not in a creepy way. More like he was searching for something. Or maybe hiding something.

Either way, it was messing with my head.

Friday afternoon, I stopped by my locker to grab a book before heading home. I wasn't expecting anything unusual.

Until I saw it.

A folded piece of paper sticking out from the vents of my locker door.

I looked around. No one was paying attention. Slowly, I pulled it free and opened it.

Just one sentence, written in neat, slanted handwriting:

"He's not who you think. Neither are you."

No name. No signature.

My heart skipped. I read it again, trying to make sense of the words — and the strange chill crawling down my spine.

Who wrote it?

Who knew something about me that I didn't?

And more importantly…

What did they know about Jace?

I stuffed the note into my pocket and left school with my mind racing. By the time I got home, my chest felt tight with questions I couldn't shake.

I went straight to my room and pulled the photo out again. My mom and Tyler Carter, smiling like they were best friends — or more.

But Mom said she didn't know him.

She lied.

And the only person who might have answers?

Was the one person who told me to stay away.

Jace.